18 Spring Break Ideas Outside of Day Camp

The question is: I can’t afford camp! How do keep kids entertained during spring break without breaking my budget? Never fear, we’ve got ideas.

Prospect Park is our go-to solution for free (and almost free) kid-friendly entertainment.

• Audubon Center–Open April 14 to 22, 12-4pm. Free. While there, learn more about the Beat Studio’s volunteer-for-recording-studio time.
• Carousel—Open April 14 to 22, 12-5pm. Regular hours are Thursday to Sunday, 12-6pm. Tickets are $2/ride or $9/five rides.
• Lefferts House—On Saturdays and Sundays kids can learn about “Bones of an Old Dutch Farmhouse” (12-1) and “History in Your Hands: Spring Sprouts”  (2-4). $3 donation recommended
• Prospect Park Zoo–Plan your trip around the sea lion feedings. Open 10am to 5pm. $8/adult, $5/child.
• Lakeside–Winter is over and so is ice skating. Rolling skating is where its at! Check their website for pricing.

Just outside Prospect Park are world-class resources.  Take advantage!

• Kensington Stables–If your child is older than 11, plan a horseback riding adventure through Prospect Park, $37.
• Brooklyn Botanical Garden—(150 Eastern Parkway) Take part in the Spring Break Discovery Week and while you’re there, indulge your senses in the Fragrance Garden. Closed Monday. Tuesday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday 10 to 6. $10 for adults, $5 students and elderly, children free.
• Brooklyn Museum–(200 Eastern Parkway) Explore the ancient Egyptian wing to see an actual mummy. Closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday 11 am to 6pm, Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday to Sunday 11 am to 6pm. $12/adult free/children under 12. Or pay as you wish.

The D, F, Q and N all stop at Coney Island, New York’s playground.

• Luna Park at Coney Island–(1000 Surf Ave) Opens Sunday, April 13th, just in time for spring break. This is the best time for to take advantage of the amusement park because no one else is there. Kids can run from ride to ride without any lines and without the glaring heat of July. Costs vary.
• Coney Island Boardwalk–Explore 3 miles of beach and boardwalk. It may not be swimming weather, but there are many off-season treasures for those willing to investigate.
• New York Aquarium—Renovations are still underway and thus tickets are still discounted. Open 10 am to 4:30 pm. $10 for everyone ages 3 and up.

Brooklyn boasts child-friendly museums.

• New York Transit Museum–(130 Livingston St) Nothing is more fun than running through subway cars. Programs for children happen on Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday-Friday, 10am to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm. $7/adult, $5/child.
• Brooklyn Children’s Museum–(145 Brooklyn Ave) The Super Sensor exhibit is worth exploration. Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. $9/person. The museum will be open Mondays April 14 and 21 during Spring Break.

Brooklyn also boasts budget-friendly, child-friendly, artistic theater.

• Brooklyn Academy of Music–(30 Lafayette Ave) BAM has day and night shows appropriate for various age groups. Check out their family page.
• Puppetworks–(338 6th Ave) Cinderella is playing on April 13. Goldilocks and the Three Bears is playing on April 19th. Shows at 12:30 and 2:30. $9/adult, $8/child.

Sometimes its just best to let kids run free!

• Research Brooklyn’s many parks then explore them, one by one, over the break.
• Start with Brooklyn Bridge Par

Brooklyn’s newest greenspace. Begin the day at Pier 6 playground, hike over the green space for a ride on Jane’s Carousel, then finish the day with a huge Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory treat.

• Brooklyn Boulders—Kids classes weekdays 4-6pm. Weekend Family Hours 8-11am, gym dedicated to families. $18 kids, $22 adults. Day pass.